Abigail Adams to John Adams

[dateline] Quincy Febry 22 1796—

[salute] My Dearest Friend

Mr Quincy and Mr Copley made me a visit this afternoon. mr Copley arrived from England
about 2 Months Since and is going to spend a year in America. he is the only son of
our Friend. I believe you may recollect him. he talk of visiting Philadelphia. if
he does I shall give him a Letter to you. mr Quincy seems much pleas’d with his Tour,
and Speaks with much gratitude of the kindness and attention he experienced from you,
whilst he was unwell in Philadelphia. I fear he will be a looser by the late failures.

I saw a paragraph in Russels centinel of Yesterday which is a very lose and blind
one. “Summarhy of the Southern Mail arrived last Evening. Charles Adams esqr has arrived
in Philadelphia, and is said to have been charged with the Treaty lately concluded
with the Dey of Algiers, who has Sent as a present to the President of the united
States an Elegant Gold Mounted Sword.” no date, no place arrived from, mentiond I
do not know, nor ever heard of any Charls Adams a broad I can not Suppose it Thomas.
I do not know how he could come by the Treaty. The only conjecture I can Make is that
possibly Such an instrument may have arrived at N York to the care of the Govenour,
and that he may have Deputed Charles as the Bearer of it to Philadelphia—1 It is also said that the Treaty with Spain had arrived, and was sent on from Boston.2 if so, the Senate
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will awake from their Slumber, and buisness will begin to be more interesting. Captain
Beals as usual when he returns from court, comes in to see me, and tell me as well
as he knows how the News and politicks of the Week. his News of last Evening was that
the President had determined to resign. I askd him where he learnt such News he said
he had Dined with Mr T Russel and heard it at his Table. I asked him who the company
were. he said a Number of country Representitives. the intelligence was from mr Russel

I did not chuse to ask him what Was said upon the occasion. I only remarkd to him
that such a Rumour had formerly prevail’d;

I have written You several Letters the week past. I hope, as you appear to be so anxious
about Letters, that you will get them in Due Season. I would not willingly dissapoint
you. I have nothing very interesting to write. it can only be a solisitude to know
that I am well for even the Farmers calender is at this Season comprised in a Line.
I am sorry to inform you, that we have two Lambs—poor Rogues the Season is too cold
for them yet. our Men begin to grow very covetous about their English Hay, and do
not like that James’s Horses should spend so much of it. I suppose I shall be obliged
to Buy some. Trask calld upon me for 8 Dollors which he said he was to have for clearing
a swamp in Curtis’s pasture, & I Supposd it was right, and I pay’d him; no News yet
from our Dear Sons. there is a vessel in from Roterdam which left it, Middle of December.
she is at the Vineyard.3 no Letter or Paper from her yesterday. I do hope to hear.

Mr Quincy made Me very happy by telling me that you appeard to enjoy your Health very
well this winter. I hope it may be continued to your / affectionate

1. A treaty of peace and amity with Algiers was signed at Algiers in early Sept. 1795.
The result of the United States’ agreeing to pay a tribute to the Barbary States of
nearly $600,000 plus an additional $21,000 annually, the treaty promised free passage
for American ships seeking to trade in the Mediterranean and the end of the capture
of American sailors by Barbary pirates. The treaty arrived in New York on 7 Feb. 1796
and was carried by CA to Philadelphia, where George Washington submitted it to the Senate on 15 February.
The Senate consented to it on 2 March, and it was formally proclaimed on 7 March (Miller, Treaties, 2:275–317; New York Argus, 9 Feb.). For the squib mentioned by AA, see Boston Columbian Centinel, 20 February.

2. Pinckney’s Treaty between the United States and Spain, signed at San Lorenzo el Real
in late Oct. 1795, arrived in Boston on the Ruby, Capt. William Cole, on 15 Feb. 1796 and reached Philadelphia the following week.
The Senate received it on 26 Feb. and consented to it on 3 March. Negotiated by Thomas
Pinckney, the treaty clarified the borders between the United States and Spain’s colonial
empire in the Americas and confirmed the right of U.S. ships to navigate freely on
the Mississippi River (Miller, Treaties, 2:318–345; Boston Columbian Centinel,
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17 Feb.; Philadelphia Gazette of the United States, 24 Feb.).

3. The Boston Columbian Centinel, 20 Feb., reported, “Capt. Clark, from Rotterdam, which he left the middle of December, has arrived at the Vineyard. She may speedily be expected round;—and intelligence from Rotterdam is direct, and always accurate.”